Chattanooga: Police shooting victim struck 43 times

Chattanooga: Police shooting victim struck 43 times

A man shot and killed by Chattanooga police late last month after expressing suicidal thoughts sustained 43 bullet wounds, according to a preliminary autopsy report made available today.

Alonzo A. Heyward, 32, apparently was pointing a shotgun at his face outside the Rossville Boulevard McDonald's restaurant on July 18 when approached by police, according to officers. Officers followed Mr. Heyward to his home on 7th Avenue, continually asking him to disarm.

When he did not comply, officers said, they shot him with a stun gun. When that wasn't successful in getting Mr. Heyward subdued, the six officers on the scene fired on the man.

The medical examiner's report indicates shots struck the man in practically every portion of his body. He had bullet wounds from his face all the way down to his ankle, according to the report.